Malaria The Global Health Challenge Ashley Kamiura & D. Scott Smith, M.D. Stanford University March 2013 Prepared as part of an education project of the Global Health Education Consortium and collaborating partners Learning Overview • • • • • • • • • • • • What Is Malaria? History Global Epidemiology: Key Facts Vector Biology: Anopheles Parasite Biology: Plasmodium Transmission & The Life Cycle of Plasmodium Prevention Millennium Development Goals The Global Fight Against Malaria: Major Players Where Are We Right Now? Quiz Summary 2 What is Malaria? 3 What Is Malaria? • Malaria is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium. There are 4 species of Plasmodium that infect humans: P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. vivax. • The parasite is transmitted to humans via infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. • Symptoms include fever, chills, and flu-like illness. If left untreated, malaria can quickly become lifethreatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. • Malaria is preventable and curable. Photo (top): Lennart Nilsson – SCANPIX Sweden Photo (bottom): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria parasites infect two red blood cells. Mosquitoes feeding on a young boy’s hand and arm. 4 History 5 History • 2700 BC: symptoms first described in ancient Chinese medical writings. • 340 CE: artemisinin drug discovered in Qinghao plant in ancient China. • In the New World, the Spanish learned of a medicinal bark used to treat fevers. That medicine is now known as the anti-malarial quinine. • 1874: A German chemistry student synthesized DDT (though its insecticidal properties were not discovered until later). Artemisia annua (Qinghao plant) at the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden • 1880: Charles Laveran, a French army surgeon, discovered parasites in the blood of a sick solider. Awarded Nobel Prize in 1907 for this discovery. Source: http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/history/index.htm Photo: Claire Parfrey 6 History (cont) • 1897: Ronald Ross, a British officer in the Indian Medical Service, demonstrated that malaria parasites could be transmitted from infected patients to mosquitoes. He also showed that mosquitoes could transmit the parasites from bird to bird, demonstrating the existence of a sporogonic cycle (development within the mosquito). For his discovery, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1902. Charles Laveran • 1899: Italian investigators demonstrated human transmission by feeding mosquitoes on an infected patient, then feeding them on two uninfected volunteers, both of whom developed malaria. Ronald Ross Source: http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/history/index.html Photo: http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/history/ 7 History (cont) • 1906: Camillo Golgi, an Italian physician, established the existence of multiple forms of malaria based on fever periodicity and cause of fevers. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1906 for this discovery. • 1934: Chloroquine was discovered in Germany, though it wasn’t recognized as an effective anti-malarial until 1946. • 1939: The insecticidal properties of DDT were discovered and used for malaria control at the end of WWII. Its introduction caused a huge decline in malaria (outside of Africa) in the 1940s, but the development of DDT resistance and its banishment caused a resurgence in the 1970s. Source: Centers For Disease Control and Prevention Photo: Time Magazine archives A vintage DDT ad printed in Time Magazine on June 30, 1947. 8 History (cont) • 1951: Malaria was considered eliminated in the U.S. • 1955: The World Health Organization submitted a proposal for the eradication of malaria worldwide. Though some progress has been made, barriers to success caused the focus of the campaign to shift from eradication to control. That effort continues today. Source: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention 9 Global Epidemiology: Key Facts 10 Global Epidemiology: Key Facts • In 2010, malaria was endemic in 106 countries around the world: Source: World Health Organization 11 Global Epidemiology: Key Facts (cont) • In 2010, there were 24 million confirmed cases of malaria and 325,000 deaths reported. • However, because not all new cases nor deaths are reported, it is estimated that 216 million people became infected with malaria, while 655,000 people died from the disease. 174 million and 596,000, respectively, were in Africa alone. • More than 40% of 2010 malaria deaths occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. The countries with the next highest mortality rates are Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali. • 86% of all malaria deaths in 2010 were in children under 5 years of age. Sources: Roll Back Malaria; World Malaria Report 2012 Photo: Bonnie Gillespie, Johns Hopkins University 12 Global Epidemiology: Key Facts (cont) • Climate is the main determinant of malaria distribution. • It is concentrated in tropical and subtropical areas due to temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns in these regions. • Malaria distribution is a function of Anopheles’ survival. Anopheles’ eggs are deposited in pools of standing water, where they develop into adulthood in 9-12 days. • Temperature is also especially critical. P. falciparum cannot complete its growth cycle within the mosquito at temperatures below 20°C (68°F). • Generally, in warmer regions near the equator, transmission is more intense and occurs yearround. • Global warming is expected to widen worldwide malaria distribution. Source: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Melting glaciers due to global warming. 13 Vector Biology: Anopheles 14 Vector Biology • Anopheles is the only species of mosquito that transmits malaria. There are 90 different Anopheles species. Most are carriers but not all. • Only female Anopheles transmit malaria. • Anopheles prefer to feed at night, typically between dusk and dawn. • Varied competence: some species carry few parasites, others carry large numbers. A female Anopheles albimanus mosquito engorged with blood while feeding on a human host. Like other Anopheles species, A. albimanus holds the major axis of the body perpendicular to the surface of the skin when blood feeding. This species is a common vector in Central America. Photo: James Gathany, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, 2005 15 Vector Biology • Global distribution of Anopheles species that act as a vector of malaria: Source: Anthony Kiszewski, Andrew Mellinger, Andrew Spielman, Pia Malaney, Sonia Erlich Sachs, and Jeffrey Sachs. A Global Index Representing The Stability of Malaria Transmission. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004 70:486-498. 16 Vector Biology (cont) • Some species of Anopheles prefer to remain inside dwellings after feeding (endophilic), while others prefer to rest outdoors (exophilic). • Some species prefer feeding indoors (endophagic) while others prefer feeding outdoors (exophagic). • Some species prefer feeding on humans (anthropophilic) while others prefer feeding on animals (zoophilic). A standing pool of water in Myanmar, Burma, a potential mosquito breeding ground. Photo: D. Scott Smith, July 2008. • Generally, anthrophilic, endophagic mosquitoes come into contact with humans more frequently and are therefore more effective vectors. 17 Parasite Biology: Plasmodium 18 Parasite Biology • There are 5 different species of the malaria parasite: Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesii. • The life cycles of P. vivax and P. ovale include a dormant liver stage. • P. vivax predominates in most parts of the world. • Infection with P. falciparum is the most serious. Anatomical view of the Plasmodium parasite. Source: John, D.T. and W.A. Petri. 2006. Chapter 4: Malaria. Markell And Voge’s Medical Parasitology. Photo: Wikipedia 19 Transmission & The Life Cycle of Plasmodium 20 Transmission & The Life Cycle of Plasmodium • Transmission of the parasite occurs when an infected female mosquito feeds on a human. • The life cycle of Plasmodium (see Supplementary Note on next page) is as follows: Photo: www.biology-forums.com 19 21 Supplementary Note: The Life Cycle of Plasmodium Malaria parasites are spread by infecting two hosts: humans and female Anopheles mosquitoes. If an uninfected mosquito feeds on an infected human, she will take in blood containing male and female gametocytes. The gametocytes will then mature inside the mosquito and undergo sexual reproduction to form a zygote, which after passing through several developmental stages, eventually results in the production of a large number of sporozoites (“sporogony”). The sporozoites wander throughout the body of the mosquito, including the salivary glands, where they will be inoculated into the next person on which she feeds. In humans, the parasites leave the blood vascular system and invade the parenchymal cells of the liver, where they undergo asexual multiplication (“shizogony”). Rupture of the hepatic cells releases merozoites into the circulation, where they can then invade red blood cells (RBCs). In RBCs, the parasites continue to divide and cause the cells to burst, releasing merozoites that continue the cycle and invade other RBCs. This stage of the life cycle causes symptoms of chills and fever in the infected individual. Merozoites develop into gametocytes within RBCs, where they can be ingested by a feeding mosquito. 22 Prevention 23 Prevention • Key interventions to control malaria include bed nets, insecticides, and drugs. • Long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) – Provide a physical barrier between humans and mosquitoes during the time of day mosquitoes are most likely to transmit malaria – at night. – Cost per person for one year of protection by an LLIN: $1.39 USD. – Spraying this imperfect barrier with insecticide will kill a mosquito before it can find a way past the net. – For F maximum effectiveness, regular bed nets must be retreated with insecticide every 6 months. Due to the logistical infeasibility of this requirement in rural areas, LLINs were developed and can provide protection for up to 5 years. Source: Roll Back Malaria Campaign Photo: Antonio Matimbe/World Vision Children sit under an LLIN in Ghana. 24 Prevention • Artemesinin-Based Combination Therapy (ACT) – The current course of treatment for malaria-infected individuals. – Cost of single adult course of ACT treatment: $0.90 - $1.40 USD. – Cost of single child course of ACT treatment: $0.30 - $0.40 USD. – Resistance has been detected in 4 countries in Southeast Asia. – Effective and well-tolerated by patients, but due to high cost, patients often purchase cheaper, less effective, poor quality, or counterfeit drugs, leading to ACTresistant strains of Plasmodium. • Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) – The spraying of insecticides on the interior walls of dwellings. – WHO currently advises the use of 12 different insecticides, including DDT, permethrin, and deltamethrin. – Mosquito resistance to insecticides has been detected in 64 countries. Source: Roll Back Malaria Campaign; World Malaria Report 2012 Photo: Agfax Indoor residual spraying in Ethiopia. 25 Prevention • Rapid Malaria Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) – A.K.A. “Dipsticks,” assist in the diagnosis of malaria by providing evidence of the presence of the parasite in the blood obtained from a finger prick. – Cost for a single RDT: $0.50 USD. – Work by detecting specific antigens produced by the parasite. – A reliable alternative to diagnosis by microscopy when microscopy not readily available. • Malaria Vaccine – Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent malaria, but this is an active field of research. – In recent Phase III clinical trials, the RTS,S vaccine had lower-than-desired efficacy, but the trials did prove it is possible to vaccinate against a parasite. – Current vaccine candidates target specific groups. Ultimately, more efficacious second-generation vaccines that can protect entire populations will be required. Sources: Roll Back Malaria Campaign; The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 26 Millennium Development Goals 27 Millennium Development Goals • In September 2000, all 191 member countries of the United Nations signed the Millennium Declaration, which contained eight goals surrounding poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. The target date for achieving these Millennium Development Goals is 2015. • Millennium Development Goal 6C is “to have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse incidence of malaria and other major diseases.” • In a 2007 resolution, the World Health Assembly defined this reversal of malaria incidence as a 75% reduction of the global malaria burden. • Who is working to achieve this goal? Source: World Health Organization 28 The Global Fight Against Malaria: Major Players 29 The Global Fight Against Malaria – Major Players The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) • Long term goal is to eradicate the disease • Approach includes: • – Developing a preventive malaria vaccine by 2025 that will be safe for children and pregnant mothers – Developing more effective drugs and diagnostics that are cheaper for people of poor countries – Developing new tools to control mosquitoes, including looking into new active ingredients and products that combat insecticide resistance – Research the effectiveness of malaria interventions, including delivery methods In 2011 alone, awarded $200M in grants supporting malaria eradication efforts Source: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Photo: Larry Hollon Bill and Melinda Gates being interviewed at the 2011 Malaria Forum. 30 The Global Fight Against Malaria – Major Players (cont) The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) • Among numerous other grants, in 2012 the B&MGF awarded: – $1.5M to the Malaria Consortium to develop a sustainable community delivery model of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. – $3M to WHO to establish a “situation room” to assist the 10 sub-Saharan Africa countries with the highest number of malaria cases and deaths. The situation room will work to resolve bottlenecks in financing, supply, scale up of interventions, and public health impacts. – $7.7M to the Harvard School of Public Health to develop diagnostic tools using genotyping and sequencing technologies, based on the population genetics of malaria parasites. – $5M to the Menzies School of Health Research for research on the safe, global deployment of the drug primaquine and the radical cure of P. vivax. – $750M to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Source: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria. Photo: Forbes Bill Gates holding an infant girl in Tanzania. 31 The Global Fight Against Malaria – Major Players (cont) The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GF) • An international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to preventing and treating the world’s three most deadliest diseases. • Holds grant recipients accountable to strict standards that require specific targets to be reached throughout the life of the grant. • Channels 50% of the global funding for malaria. • Since its inception in 2002, the GF has provided 310 million bed nets, provided IRS in 44 million dwellings, and has financed ACT treatment for 260 million cases. Source: The Global Fund 32 The Global Fight Against Malaria – Major Players (cont) World Health Organization (WHO) • Administers the Global Malaria Programme (GMP), which convenes experts to review evidence and set global policies, providing the benchmark for international malaria programs and multilateral funding agencies. Source: World Health Organization 33 The Global Fight Against Malaria – Major Players (cont) Roll Back Malaria (RBM) • The RBM partnership was launched in 1998 by WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, and the World Bank in an effort to provide a coordinated global response to the disease. • RBM’s vision is a world free from the burden of malaria. • At the MDG Malaria Summit in September 2008, world leaders and the global malaria community gathered in New York to endorse the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP), which provides a global framework for action around which partners can coordinate their efforts in meeting the 2015 MDGs. “I believe that if you show people a problem, and then you show them the solution, they will be moved to act. The Global Malaria Action Plan lays out an achievable blueprint for fighting malaria – now it’s time for the world to take action.” – Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Source: Roll Back Malaria Campaign 34 Where Are We Right Now? 35 Where Are We Right Now? • The past 5 years have seen an impressive increase in international funding for malaria control efforts. • Over the past decade, an estimated 1.1M malaria deaths were averted as a result. • 50 countries are currently on track to reduce their malaria incidence rates by 75%, in line with the Roll Back Malaria Campaign’s targets for 2015. • However, these 50 countries account for only 3% of the total estimated malaria cases worldwide. A young girl holds a “malaria” sign. Source: World Malaria Report 2012 Photo: www.futurity.org 36 Where Are We Right Now? • International targets will not be met unless considerable progress is made in the 14 countries with the highest malaria burden, which account for an estimated 80% of malaria deaths. • Unfortunately, current funding falls short of what is needed to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. An estimated $5.1B USD is required each year between 2011 and 2020 to achieve universal access to malaria interventions . • Presently, only $2.3B USD is available. • We have come a long way in the fight against malaria since 1955, but to reach the Millennium Development Goals new funding sources must be identified to further scale up and sustain current efforts. Source: World Malaria Report 2012 37 Quiz See if you can answer the following 8 questions. Each question is followed by the correct answer, shown in green. 38 What are some challenges faced by malaria vaccine developers? a) Antigens produced by the parasite differ depending on the life cycle stage it is currently in b) Attenuated parasites sometimes exhibit abnormal behavior, such as an inability to enter hepatocytes c) Evidence of resistance to artemesinin d) Logistical obstacles to administering a vaccine to the general public e) All of the above 39 What are some challenges faced by malaria vaccine developers? a) Antigens produced by the parasite differ depending on the life cycle stage it is currently in b) Attenuated parasites sometimes exhibit abnormal behavior, such as an inability to enter hepatocytes c) Evidence of resistance to artemesinin d) Logistical obstacles to administering a vaccine to the general public e) All of the above 40 In which region of the world do the most deaths from malaria occur each year? a) China and India, the two most populous countries b) Southeast Asia, where resistance to anti-malarial drugs most commonly occurs c) Sub-Saharan Africa d) South America, which contains the Amazon and abundant standing pools of water e) The US and Europe, where the most cases are positively diagnosed 41 In which region of the world do the most deaths from malaria occur each year? a) China and India, the two most populous countries b) Southeast Asia, where resistance to anti-malarial drugs most commonly occurs c) Sub-Saharan Africa d) South America, which contains the Amazon and abundant standing pools of water e) The US and Europe, where the most cases are positively diagnosed 42 The malaria parasite is transmitted by which vector? a) b) c) d) e) Reduvid bugs Aedes mosquitos Culex mosquitos Any blood sucking insect Anopheles mosquitos 43 The malaria parasite is transmitted by which vector? a) b) c) d) e) Reduvid bugs Aedes mosquitos Culex mosquitos Any blood sucking insect Anopheles mosquitos 44 A mosquito that bites a human indoors then rests outdoors is: a) b) c) d) e) Zoophilic, endophagic, endophilic Zoophilic, endophagic, exophilic Anthrophilic, endophagic, endophilic Anthrophilic, endophagic, exophilic Anthrophilic, exophagic, endophilic 45 A mosquito that bites a human indoors then rests outdoors is: a) b) c) d) e) Zoophilic, endophagic, endophilic Zoophilic, endophagic, exophilic Anthrophilic, endophagic, endophilic Anthrophilic, endophagic, exophilic Anthrophilic, exophagic, endophilic 46 What is an environmental condition that may prevent the transmission of malaria? a) b) c) d) e) High altitude Heat Desert oases containing water Availability of animal reservoirs Global warming 47 What is an environmental condition that may prevent the transmission of malaria? a) b) c) d) e) High altitudes Heat Desert oases containing water Availability of animal reservoirs Global warming 48 Public health strategies proven to effectively control malaria include all of the following except: a) Spraying the interior walls of dwellings with insecticides b) Distributing mesh nets treated with insecticides meant for sleeping under c) Releasing genetically incompetent vectors in areas of high transmission rates d) Surveillance and treatment with anti-malarial drugs e) Targeting mosquito larva for control 49 Public health strategies proven to effectively control malaria include all of the following except: a) Spraying the interior walls of dwellings with insecticides b) Distributing mesh nets treated with insecticides meant for sleeping under c) Releasing genetically incompetent vectors in areas of high transmission rates d) Surveillance and treatment with anti-malarial drugs e) Targeting mosquito larva for control 50 Since 2008, funding for malaria control efforts has steadily increased. a) True b) False 51 Since 2008, funding for malaria control efforts has steadily increased. a) True b) False 52 The following terms are applicable to categorizing malaria control efforts except: a) b) c) d) e) Control Pre-elimination Eradication Elimination Prevention of re-introduction 53 The following terms are applicable to categorizing malaria control efforts except: a) b) c) d) e) Control Pre-elimination Eradication Elimination Prevention of re-introduction 54 Summary • Malaria is a parasite that is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes. • Malaria is preventable and curable. However, if left untreated, malaria can cause death by disrupting the blood supply to organs. • It was first described in Chinese antiquity but has more recently been understood biologically using microscopes. • The world’s heaviest malaria burden is in Africa. 40% of all malaria deaths in 2010 were in four African countries alone. • Children under the age of 5 are the demographic most affected by malaria. In 2010, 86% of all malaria deaths occurred in children under 5 years of age. 55 Summary (cont) • The world’s heaviest malaria burden is in Africa. 40% of all malaria deaths in 2010 were in four African countries alone. • The distribution of malaria is a function of Anopheles survival, which is in turn a function of climate. Anopheles requires warm climates to survive. It follows, then, that malaria prevalence is highest in warmer areas near the equator, though global warming is expected to increase the lateral ranges of global malaria distribution. • Only female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria. • There are five different species of the malaria parasite. Plasmodium falciparum is the most serious. 56 Summary (cont) • Key interventions to malaria transmission include bed nets, insecticides, and drugs. • Currently, no vaccine against malaria exists, though this is an active area of research. • The Millennium Development Goals call for a reversal of the global malaria burden by 75% by 2015. • Several organizations, including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund, the World Health Organization, and the Roll Back Malaria Campaign. 57 Summary (cont) • Since 2008, there has been an impressive increase in funding for malaria control efforts, and 1.1M malaria deaths were averted as a result. 50 countries are currently on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals. • However, additional funding is required in order to meet these internationally agreed upon targets. Specifically, $5.1B per year is required between 2011 and 2020, but only $2.3B is currently available. 58 References Papers Garner P, Systematic reviews in malaria: global policies need global reviews. Infect Dis Clin North Am - 01JUN-2009; 23(2): 387-404. Kiszewski, A., A Mellinger, A Spielman, P Malaney, SE Sachs, and J Sachs. A Global Index Representing The Stability of Malaria Transmission. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004 70:486-498. Medicine: Knockout malaria vaccine?, Ménard, R., Medicine: Knockout malaria vaccine? Nature 433, 113114 (13 January 2005) Mishra SK, Mohanty S, Mohanty A, Das BS. Management of severe and complicated malaria. J Postgrad Med. 2006 Oct-Dec;52(4):281-7. Books John, D.T. and W.A. Petri. 2006. Chapter 4: Malaria. Markell And Voge’s Medical Parasitology. St Louis: Saunders Elsevier, pp. 79-106. Mandell, G.L., J.E. Bennett and R. Dolin. 2010. Chapter 275: Plasmodium Species (Malaria). Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th Edition. Churchhill Livingstone Elsevier, pp. 3437-3462. 59 References (cont) Websites • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/GlobalHealth/Malaria • Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/MALARIA/ • Roll Back Malaria: http://www.rbm.who.int/ • The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/ • World Health Organization (World Malaria Report 2012): http://www.who.int/topics/malaria/en/ 60 Credits • Ashley Kamiura, BA, Stanford University • [email protected] • D. Scott Smith, MD, MSc, DTM&H • Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City, California • Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor Depts. of Human Biology and Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine • [email protected] 61 The Global Health Education Consortium and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health gratefully acknowledge the support provided for developing teaching modules from the: Margaret Kendrick Blodgett Foundation The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation Arnold P. Gold Foundation This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 62
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz